CHICAGO (AP/WBBM NEWSRADIO) — In his first interview since being charged with sexually abusing four people, including three underage girls, R. Kelly said he "didn't do this stuff" and he's fighting for his life.
The R&B singer, out on bail after his Feb. 22 arrest in Chicago, gave his first interview to Gayle King of "CBS This Morning," with excerpts airing Tuesday night. More of the interview will air Wednesday and Thursday on "CBS This Morning."
An emotional R. Kelly cried, stood up and ranted about being "assassinated," calling his accusers "liars" and saying people are going after him for his money.
"All of them are lying. I have been assassinated," he said.
Kelly, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, told King that he never sexually abused women or controlled their lives. The 52-year-old singer was charged last month with sexually abusing four females dating back to 1998, including three underage girls.
Kelly said he has done "lots of things wrong" when it comes to women, but said he has apologized. He denies doing anything against their will. The singer said he believes social media is to blame for creating the allegations against him.
At one point during the interview, Kelly stands up and rants, saying: "I have been buried alive, but I'm alive." He said he needs someone to help him "not have a big heart."
"You all don't want to believe the truth," he said.
CBS said it interviewed Kelly for 80 minutes. In an excerpt that aired Tuesday night, Kelly told King that rumors of him having sex with and abusing underage girls were "not true."
"Whether they're old rumors, new rumors, future rumors, not true," Kelly said.
When King asked Kelly if he has held women against their will, he replied: "That's stupid!"
"Use your common sense. Forget the blogs, forget how you feel about me," Kelly said. "Hate me if you want to, love me if you want. But just use your common sense. How stupid would it be for me, with my crazy past and what I've been through — oh right now I just think I need to be a monster, and hold girls against their will, chain them up in my basement, and don't let them eat, and don't let them out."
King told Kelly that he seemed to be "playing the victim card."
He broke down in tears as he hit his hands together, saying: "I'm fighting for my (expletive) life."
When pressed about whether he was attracted to younger women, the 52-year-old Kelly said: "I'm an older man who loves all women." He acknowledged living and being in a relationship with two young women.
The recording artist has been trailed for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves. Kelly has consistently denied any sexual misconduct and was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008. Those charges centered on a graphic video that prosecutors said showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13.
As part of his current case, Kelly is forbidden from having any contact with females younger than 18. He has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse
Interviews with the two women who live with Kelly will air Friday, including one woman whose parents say is being held against her will. Kelly suggested the young woman's parents were in it for the money and put blame on them for his relationship with their daughter, saying they brought her to watch him perform when she was a teenager.
A lawyer for the couple bristled at the allegation, saying Timothy and Jonjelyn Savage never asked for or received money from Kelly. The couple said they have not spoken to their 23-year-old daughter for two years and asked Kelly to make her available to talk to them.
"At no point did this family sell their daughter to anyone or provide their daughter for anything for money," attorney Gerald Griggs said Wednesday during a news conference.
Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008 that centered on a graphic video that prosecutors said showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13.
"For one, I beat my case. When you beat something you beat it. You can't double jeopardy me like that. It's not fair," Kelly also tells King during the interview.
Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for two Kelly accusers, responded to Kelly's "double jeopardy" comment Tuesday on Twitter.